Things to do in Gangwon-Do
Gangwon-Do is a mountainous province in the northeastern part of South Korea that is home to stunning beaches, fresh seafood and famous ski resorts! There are also many new Instagram-worthy museums, strawberry farms and a strong cafe culture with excellent coffee.
Here’s why you’ll be adding Gangwon-Do to your next Korea trip itinerary!
Getting to Gangwon-Do from Seoul
Via KTX
Grab your Korail Pass and hop onto the KTX to Gangwon-Do! You can now travel from Seoul to Gangwon-do in under an hour via the KTX Gangneung high-speed rail line.
By Car
We definitely recommend driving to Gangwon-Do and making a road trip out of your visit. While there are intercity buses, driving to your destination gives you more freedom and increased convenience!
If you’re a fan of Korean Variety shows, you’ll know the beauty of rest stops! Stretch your legs, enjoy some bites before heading on your way.
Top Activities in Gangwon-Do
1. Ski at Yongpyong Resort
Yongpyong Resort is the biggest ski and snowboarding resort in Korea, with 28 slopes for all winter sport enthusiasts and beginners. If you’re completely new to skiing or snowboarding, fret not! There are lessons held by very patient and experienced instructors at the resort and you can rent everything from ski jackets to snowboards.
If skiing and snowboarding are too extreme for you, grab a tube and slide down the slopes! These are a great way to get introduced to the snow.
If you visit in the summer, Yongpyong Resort is also home to a huge waterpark, Peak Island, with huge waterslides and lazy rivers for you to float to your heart’s content.
Address: 130 Daegwalnyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
2. Balwangsan Skywalk
Located at the top of Yongpyong Resort 1458m above sea level is Balwangsan Mountain. Hop onto the Gondola and enjoy a breathtaking 18 minute ride up to the top and spot many skiers and boarders on their way down.
Take a hike along the many trails and take a pit stop for some fresh spring water! The locals believe that the water here can help grant wishes and there are 4 separate taps for health, wealth, love and wisdom. (We don’t know about you but we definitely took huge gulps from the health tap!)
Don’t miss out on the Skywalk at the top of Dragon’s Peak. With transparent floors, this lookout is not for the faint of heart.
#Klooktip: The winds can get pretty strong on the top so be sure to pack a light jacket even in the summer!
3. Strawberry Picking
The strawberries in Korea are probably the sweetest we’ve ever tried! We kid you not. It was so hard to resist the temptation to take a bite out of every single one we’ve picked. Head to the strawberry farms in Gangneung and pick to your heart’s content.
#Klooktip: To pluck the strawberry, gently hold it between 2 fingers and pull it at the root of the stem!
Take a day trip out of Seoul and enjoy a visit to Nami Island, Garden of Morning Calm, Petite France and Strawberry Picking all in a day!
4. Cafe-hop along Anmok Beach
Gangneung’s coffee culture began when Korea’s first generation artisan of brewed coffee opened a cafe “Bohemian Roasters” and spread the coffee craze throughout the city.
Enjoy a quality cuppa with beans roasted in-house at Bossa Nova along Anmok Beach! We tried the cold brew latte and it was deliciously nutty and the perfect pick me up after a long lunch.
The cafe is a 4 storey building with a rooftop terrace so if the weather permits, we definitely recommend heading up to enjoy the ocean breeze and the views of the East Sea.
Address: 28 Changhae-ro 14beon-gil, Gyeonso-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Top Attractions in Gangwon-Do
5. Arte Museum Gangneung
Arte Museum Valley is Korea’s largest immersive media exhibition hosting 8 different experiences under the theme of Valley. Expect multi-sensory displays of flowers, waves, thunder and more that make the perfect backdrop for photos.
For the little ones, you can even color various creatures and see them come alive on the screens!
#Klooktip: We recommend visiting on a weekday as it’s usually less crowded then! (Smaller chance of photobombers)
Address : 505-4, Chodang-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do
Operating hours : MON-SUN 10:00 ~ 20:00 (Last Admission at 19:00)
Website: Arte Museum Gangneung
6. Haslla Art World
Haslla Art World - where art meets nature. Home to floor to ceiling art installations both indoors and outdoors, this place is a treat for the eyes. Inside the museum you’ll find rainbow facades, mirrors, flower walls, string art and even sculptures made entirely out of staple bullets.
Head into the mysterious tunnels and venture out to the outdoor sculpture park with larger than life brain sculptures, bicycles and more!
The museum is also a hotel and the rooms here overlook the East Sea which means you can have a soak in your tub all while taking in the views!
Address: 1441 Yulgok-ro, Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
7. Jumunjin Beach (Goblin Filming Site)
Fans of the hit K-drama Goblin will definitely recognize this breakwater at Jumunjin Beach. Recreate the scene of Eun Tak and Kim Shin first met with your own red scarf and bouquet of buckwheat flowers. There are also plenty of cafes along the street for you to pick up a cuppa.
P.S. Gong Yoo not included.
Check out other K-drama filming locations and recreate your favourite scenes!
Address: 81-32 Gyohang-ri, Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung, Gangwon-do, South Korea
8. BTS Bus Stop
Coined the BTS Bus Stop, ARMYs would recognize this from the music video of Spring Day and the cover of BTS’ full-length album “You Never Walk Alone.” Blast the hit from your phones and bask in the knowledge that your bias was once standing in the exact same spot, breathing the same air, and seeing the same view.
Address: 8-54 Hyangho-ri, Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
9. Naksansa Temple
Naksansa Temple is a Korean Buddhist temple that sits on top of a cliff overlooking the East Sea. As you make your way up to the 18 metre tall Bodhisattva of Mercy, you’ll see rows of stacked stones and wishes that people have left.
P.S. We too left a wish for the end of Covid and borders to reopen, see if you spot ours on your visit.
Address: 100 Naksansa-ro, Ganghyeon-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Must-Eats in Gangwon-Do
10. Chodang Soft Tofu
Chodang Tofu is considered a premium type of Tofu, known for its soft texture and savoury taste. Made with seawater brine, this tofu is flavourful even on its own. Try out the spicy soft tofu stew or have it topped with pickled perilla leaves and Kimchi.
You can also try out Tofu Gelato from Sundubu Gelato, freshly churned daily. Creamy and sweet, since it’s made of tofu it should be good for you, right?
Address: 95-5 Chodangsundubu-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
11. Snow Crab
With such close proximity to the East Sea, of course you can’t leave the town without having some fresh seafood! We tried out the bigger-than-your-face Snow Crabs at the Jumunjin Seafood Market. Enjoy the sweet and plump flesh of the crab legs before trying a scoop of rice mixed with crab innards.
Other interesting sea creatures to try include the Sea Whelks and Sea Squirts. Dip it into the vinegar chilli paste for a tangy and refreshing bite.
12. Squid Sundae
Squid Sundae which you can find in the food markets here in Gangwon-Do are stuffed with chopped up tentacles, vegetables and rice. The chewy squid rings are then coated in an egg mixture and fried on the hot plates, and it was needless to say, we finished the entire serving while waiting for the next batch to cook.
Want to try out more Korean market faves? Check out this Korean Night Dining Tour and feast your night away.
South Korea Essentials
WiFi/SIM Card
If you’re heading to Korea, you’ll definitely want to stay connected at all times. Afterall, if you didn't post Instagram Stories of your trip, did you really go? Pre-book your WiFi device or SIM Card on Klook and pick it up at the airport upon arrival before heading to do your PCR tests!
PCR tests
Provider | Number of Locations | Price |
|---|---|---|
Pre-Departure ART | ||
13 clinics islandwide | $26.75 | |
Tele-ART | $21.40 (Excludes ART Kits) | |
9 clinics islandwide | $32.10 | |
Home-based test | $70 | |
37 clinics islandwide | $30 | |
Tele-ART | $12 (Excludes ART Kits) | |
Hidoc Medical Centre @ Raffles Place | $38 | |
Home-based test | $72.80 | |
5 testing centres islandwide | $25 | |
Home-based test | $58 | |
Pre-Departure PCR | ||
13 clinics islandwide | $77 | |
9 clinics islandwide | $95 $155 (with Serology Test) | |
Home-based test | $128 $198 (with Serology Test) | |
37 clinics islandwide | $95 $140 (with Serology Test) | |
Hidoc Medical Centre @ Raffles Place | $124 $238 (Express) | |
Home-based test | $238 $266 (Express) | |
Home-based test | $196.20 $340.10 (2 pax) $565.60 (4 pax) | |
5 testing centres islandwide | $91.20 $216.60 (Express) | |
Mobile test | $131.10 $254.60 (Express) | |
Home-based test | $310 (2 pax) $513 (4 pax) | |
You will be required to produce a negative PCR test before departing to South Korea. The test can be taken up to 2 days before departure so be sure to schedule it accordingly with sufficient time for the results to come out. Don’t forget to print out hard copy versions of the results!
Travel Insurance
As part of the VTL guidelines, you will need to have Travel Insurance Coverage of at least 30 Million Korean Won. The Klook x Chubb Travel Insurance provides COVID-19 coverage of up to S$150,000 for overseas hospitalisation and medical costs.
Enjoy extra savings with Klook x KTO
Enjoy an extra $20 off all South Korea activities on Klook when you use the promo code <WINTERINKOREA> with a min spend of $150.
Enjoy 1-for-1 deals and up to $60 off your overseas activities bookings when you pay with any of these six payment methods and their respective promo codes - Citibank / DBS / GrabPay / OCBC / Standard Chartered / UOB
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